Gene: I heard the band’s new name and thought, ‘What’s up with that?’
I was born in Anderson, S.C. on July 4, 1949. My twin sister, Jan, passed away in 1994; my older brother is Ken and my younger brother is Steve.
I lived in South Carolina for 12 years, then moved to the Glendale/Burbank area, near Los Angeles.
In the early ’60s my brother Ken played guitar in his surf band. I picked up coronet in junior high. But when I watched my brother’s band rehearse I was intrigued by his drummer, and said to myself, “I can do that! That’s what I want to do!”
My Dad bought me a set of Gretsch drums for my birthday. After school I would sit at the drums with a stack of 45rpm records on the player, and learn all the drum parts of all the popular songs of that time.
For a while, Ken and I had a band called the Ravens. Then I joined a country & western band, Lonnie and the Legends.
At Hoover High School in Glendale, I formed a band with Gary Lovetro, Steve Rabe and Mike Luciano. Steve left and Ed King joined. For whatever reason, Mike left the band and Lee Freeman of Burbank High joined. I was the leader but when Ed decided at one point to leave, we offered him the position of “leader” of the band if he would stay. He did.
The band decided it needed a keyboard player. So Mark Weitz joined.
The name of the original band was the Quaker Oats. But we realized we couldn’t keep that name for very long (due to the cereal company). The British invasion was in full swing, so we changed our name to Thee Sixpence. Pinstripe suits, Beatle boots and all. The band played extensively in Santa Barbara, in pizza joints and such, covering songs by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Standells, the Music Machine and so on.
After Thee Sixpence signed a contract with All American Records and recorded a mix of cover songs and some original songs with no success, I became a bit discouraged. We had good singers but I thought we needed a “recognizable” voice — a lead singer — in order to be a success.
In early 1967, Mark wrote a tune. He asked Ed to help him finish it. But the song had neither lyrics nor melody. Just a “basic track.” We went into the studio and recorded it. We also recorded “Birdman of Alkatrash” with Mark’s signature vocals. “Birdman of Alkatrash” was going to be the “A” side of the single, and the song with no lyrics nor melody was going to be the B side.
Then my jealous girlfriend convinced me to “get a real job,” one with a future and income. So I quit the group and got a job at McDonald’s.
Meanwhile, the partial song developed, lyrics were written and that was “Incense and Peppermints.” A friend from another band, Greg Munford, ended up doing lead vocals. I thought, “Here’s a song, with another band’s singer singing it.” Thee Sixpence still was in need of a lead singer. And, to top it off, the band changed their name to the Strawberry Alarm Clock. I thought, “What’s up with that?”
After a while, Ed King called and asked that I reconsider leaving the band. He said, “I’ve got a different feeling about this song.” I was hard-headed and in love. I declined to rejoin the band. Randy Seol replaced me.
In a relatively short period of time, “Incense and Peppermints” became No. 1 in America for a solid record-breaking eight weeks. I was pissed at myself for making such a bad decision. And I never married that girlfriend.
I found another band, Hunger. Recorded an album with them, played various venues around Southern California, including the Whiskey A Go Go. Then our truck with all our equipment — including my original set of Gretsch drums — was stolen. Hunger stuck together for another year hoping to strike a record deal and get new equipment. That never happened.
Two years after leaving Thee Sixpence/Strawberry Alarm Clock, while I was still playing drums in Hunger, Ed King told me that Randy had left the group and asked that I rejoin the Strawberry Alarm Clock. I asked Ed if the plan was to be a rock ‘n’ roll band and he said yes. I happily rejoined in 1969. Jimmy Pitman (of the Nightcrawlers) was the new lead singer. I thought Jimmy’s voice was great. We struck a deal with the Ludwig Drum Company and I got a new set with red-sparkled double bass drums.
As the band struggled again to regain its success, Jimmy left and was replaced by Paul Marshall. Mark Weitz eventually exited as well. The band was in the movie “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.” That group was Lee Freeman on bass and vocals, Ed King on lead guitar and backup vocals, Paul Marshall on guitar and vocals, and me on drums.
In February 1971, the band broke up with the help of an earthquake in Sylmar, near Burbank. Ed and I lived in the same apartment complex. We looked at each other and said, “Let’s get the hell out of here.” We got in a car and headed to Las Vegas for a few days. Ed decided to move to Jacksonville, Fla., to join an little-known band that opened for us during a tour though the South. That band was Lynyrd Skynyrd.
I was ready to leave California as well, move back home to South Carolina, but was sidetracked when the road manager for the Everly Brothers asked that I audition for their band, two weeks before a European tour. I tried out along with guitarist Waddy Wachtel and we were welcomed into the band by their keyboardist/band director, Warren Zevon.
I was with the Everly Brothers band for two years until they broke up in 1973. I married a short time later and we had two children.
During the next few years of rehearsing and playing with the Waddy Wachtel Band and Warren Zevon, discouragement and lack of money forced me to look elsewhere for work.
Then, while still living in Burbank, I joined a Christian rock group, A Band Called David, as backup for the well-known group the 2nd Chapter of Acts along with Barry McQuire (“Eve of Destruction.”).
In 1980, due to a divorce and remarriage (and eventually two more kids), I left the Christian group and began playing local clubs with a country & western band. I also joined a cover band called The Rockin’ Jimmies. With manager and producer Roy Marinell (co-writer of Zevon’s “Werewolves of London”) at the helm, we rehearsed original songs with no success. I also had a brief reunion with the Strawberry Alarm Clock.
Meanwhile, I’d started a company that specialized in decorating special events and parties. Eventually, working both jobs became too much. Although music was my first love, my decision to be a responsible husband and father forced me to pick the job that was paying the most money, event decorating. So I left music for many years. Eventually, after a second divorce, I moved to Las Vegas in 2000, continuing to decorate events.
In 2007, I got an email from Paul Marshall saying that the Strawberry Alarm Clock was reuniting for a film festival and Roger Ebert had asked the band to perform after the showing of “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.” I learned that Mark Weitz was aboard. I knew that since Mark was joining there had to be “something special” about this particular incarnation of the group. Since I was the drummer at the time the movie was released, it was only fair that I be a part of the band. Also, learning that Steve Bartek was in the band, I felt there was an added ingredient for a solid foundation for the group.
So, finally, both Randy Seol and I became permanent drummers in the band, both of us switching between percussion and the drum kit.
been a long time since the days of Hunger and SAC.
i often think about the girl i left behind (Jan) when i
returned to Portland and played in clubs for 2yrs. with my new cover band Taxy
wondering often what became of all the musicians i had played with over the yrs.
after the death of my 22yr. old son just days before New Years 2007 and a divorce from his mother
i moved to Mexico and Phoenix for 1yr.
got my head on straight and began writing rock-n-roll and
jazz and bigband along with jump jive … an illness almost 86’d me and i battled a poisoned system for
a few years all the time working as inspecter for Boeing and finally retired. i recovered but battled a
weakened ticker and several bouts with pneumonia…today i write songs and enjoy a laid back life
in Spokane, Wash.
I play around with the notion of re-entering the studio but don’t favor the
quality of musicians here for that gig. Good to hear what is happening down there and also the guys in Portland who are still alive and kickin !
Mike Parkison (Parko)
Hy Mike & Gene — this is Steve Hansen your old Rhythm from hunger. Sure would be nice to hear from either of you.
Hi Mike. Bob from Taxy. Just an update for you. Glenn and Kelly have both passed, looks like we are the last ones left. I played with a couple of other bands. but went to work for the railroad to survive. Still have my drums but, at 73 don’t think ill play again. Hope you are well. Take care my friend.
I lived up the street (on Columbus Ave in Glendale) from Gary Lovetro and graduated from Hoover in 1966. Boy, didn’t the REAL music start about then!! I remember hearing him play the guitar (and drums, I thought) a few doors away at my friend’s house. Also as a child, I remember hearing stories of a mountain lion being seen in his backyard, I was afraid to go trick or treating one year! About 12 years later, I took a call for my boss at Getty Financial from Gary, he was selling wine to restaurants. I always wondered what happened to him.
Hi, Gene — I would like to post “Baby, without you” in my blog, since it is one of my favourites ones. Could you help to give me a more extended notice of Lonney & The Legends than I have from the Web? Many thanks! — Miguel from Spain.
Dear Gene: I’m from Anderson, SC, and know your brother, Ken. I also knew your twin sister. About forty years ago (can your believe it?) my band The Blades opened for The Strawberry Alarm clock two times in SC. I’ve been out of the music business since then but will always miss it. See ya, Gary Fellers
Gary, call me when you can.. Jimmy Gilstrap 864-296-3202
Gene: Wasn’t there a time between Quacker Oats and Thee Sixpence when the band was named “The Outsiders” but this name was dropped because of confusion with the Chicago band of the same name when they recorded Time Won’t Let Me? I saw one form of your band or another many times at the Glendale Y-Hops in the early-mid sixties. I loved Lee Freeman’s version of “Mother-in-Law”
Gene: Glad to see your site and remember SAC very well. I went to high school with Steve at McDuffie High in Anderson. And Gary, I think I went to my first live band event when The Blades played a teen club down from The State Theater in Anderson. Good times but a long time ago. Jack McAllister, Atlanta
Gene, my short opportunity of friendship with you and Ed in the portable classrooms of Allen Daily High School in Glendale created life-long memories for me. I remember the disappointment experienced when you were not included in the success of SAC, yet I had no understanding of the intricacies of the music business. It’s been a delight reading the above. God bless.
Gene, I don’t think that I have ever met you.I knew your brother Ken from playing at the nightclubs here in Anderson,SC … I see now why you left this dive..Is Ken still alive? I heard that he passed away … lol
Hello, Gene. I enjoyed reading your profile, and was not aware a fellow South Carolinian was a member of SAC. I also was born at Anderson, SC. In fact I knew some folks with the last name Gunnels, distantly related through my Uncle Harold and Aunt Minnie. I took note that Gary Fellers had left you a message some time in the recent past. His band and ours were contemporary garage bands during the 1960s, both bands having made a couple recordings each at the old Atlanta Sound Recording Studios in 1966. Those were the good old days for sure.
Howdy. I’m trying to find Lonnie Grah. I went to school with him and played guitar with him a few times.. Some of the guy’s that played in Bands in High School have been getting together for a once a year reunion Jam. Would love to find out where Lonnie Grah is ..any info would be great..Thank you Jim Rogers
IF anyone has any info on Lonnie Grah my Phone# is 714-454-2428 thank you
Performing behind the Everly Brothers must have been a fairly easy gig after all the trippy, jazzy psych-drumming that was so prevalent among percussionists in the 1960’s. Who were your chief influences? I’ll bet a lot of jazz and Keith Moon. Were you by any chance influenced by Ringo Starr after his iconic “Ed Sullivan” performance on February 9,1964?
Wow, what a trip back in time reading this has been. Anybody know whatever happened to Lee Freeman or Mike Luciano?
I was a “groupie” w the Sixpence. Kind of dated Michael. I know Lee passed away. But does anyone know about Michael
A friend of mine says he once played drums for the Strawberry Alarm Clock. His name is Russ Gephardt. Is that correct?
Hello Gene,
This is Shari. I was basist Tom Tanory’s girlfriend during the time Hunger was in hiatus. Nice Blog! And a nice surprise reading Parko’s message.
I’m writing because after all these years, it occured to me (call it psychic, or?) that it was Hunger’s agent who was behind The Hunger’s equipment being ripped off. Thinking further, I remember how cold-hearted he was when the band was down and out. This was the easy way out of the contract for him.
Living in Tucson now, oil painting and making nice jewelry.
Many best wishes,
Shari.
I met a man named Russ Gephard who claimed to be a member of the Strawberry Alarm Clock when it was a session band, before it reached acclaim. He said that the band did not have a name until its song had become notable. At any rate, is there any truth to Russ’s claim that he was once drummer for Strawberry Alarm Clock. Russ is sadly deceased, so my inquiry is more about curiosity.
Gene, you are an gifted performer and a person with a giving soul, and very glad I have met you. Your art car is the bomb! Say “hi” to Pebbles.
Great to find this and hear how you are doing. Happy you are drumming it up again! Jim and I say hi and remember fond days from Glendale. Play on, Gene!! Happiness forever….
Jim and Andrea Standley
Andrea……WOW!!!! Great to hear from you. Are you still living in the Valley? We are playing at the Starry Nights Festival in Santa Barbara on March 18, 2017. Also Regent Theater in LA June 24, Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood July 22 and Bogies in the San Fernando Valley on July 23. It would be great to see you.
Jim
Steve Gunnels here
Hi Gene, aka Bam Bam, Great to read about your life story!! Can’t wait to see you this weekend at Starry Nights and see you on the Big stage! Here is to 16 years of friendship!! Love you!! XXOO Luna
Gene: I believe … For a brief period of time … you played in a band called Grand Junction. I know because I was the guitarist in the band. We went on to back up Hugh Hefner’s girlfriend Barbi Benton and toured the US often flying in the Playboy jet.
I’m still in the music business … own and run one of the nicest studios in Houston called Lucky Run Studio
Wow. I don’t remember that at all. Flying in the Playboy jet?? I would have remembered that!!!
My memory is poor but i think i auditioned, or perhaps i considered auditioning for a band called Rockin Jimmies in L.A., around 1982 or 83. I thought they wrote their own songs though. Maybe i just met them and heard their stuff. But it was actually pretty good IMHO. I remember a song called “She’s Everything To Me,” that i think they wrote?